HC Deb 22 March 1917 vol 91 cc2036-7
13. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will give the name of the valuer on whose advice the Government have enabled the "Freeman's Journal" Company to issue an enlarged paper in war time by paying £27,000 for machines insured for only £15,000, £2,500 for furniture insured for only £1,000, £6,837 for stock insured for only £3,325, £3,700 for loss of revenue insured for only £1,000, and £21,286 11s. 7d. for buildings insured for only £1,000; and whether the Government will obtain and act upon the valuation of the same valuer in compensating for the newspaper plant destroyed by the military and police in Ireland during the last couple of years?

Mr. DUKE

The amounts paid to the company represented what the Property Losses Committee found to be the actual loss upon an insurance basis. A good deal of the property was only partly insured, as the company had its own arrangements for security against an ordinary outbreak of fire. There is no ground for the suggestion that these claimants received any exceptional treatment from the Committee.

Mr. GINNELL

The right hon. Gentleman has not given the name of this wonderful valuer asked for in the first paragraph of the question?

Mr. DUKE

That valuer was not employed by the Government.

Mr. GINNELL

What was his name?

Mr. O'DONNELL

May I ask if he is the same valuer who valued other properties in Dublin?

Mr. DUKE

I have not the least idea. There is no doubt he did his duty properly and gave his evidence before the Committee, upon which the Committee came to a conclusion.

Mr. GINNELL

Did he not, as a matter of fact, succeed in getting £63,000 of public money to start a newspaper in Dublin to support the Government?

Mr. DUKE

I should like to see the paper in Ireland that supports the Government!